Books are my passion, and have been ever since high school when I first read the Twilight Saga. I will not be recommending this particular series on this list because I'm certain that most people have read it. Plus, many of the books I plan on recommending are for mature audiences. I mean mature because some of the topics are disturbing and difficult to handle for some people. I read most of these novels as an undergrad, and a lot of them made it onto my "favorites" list. Some of these novels I read for classes that I have taken as an undergrad as well.
"Where the Heart Is" By: Billie Letts
This novel is my #1. I can't really explain exactly why, except for the fact that I connected really well with the novel as a whole. I found that I couldn't put it down, and the subject matter captivated me entirely. This novel was also adapted into a film, which was pretty decent. There were slight changes, but the integrity of the novel was retained in the film. For anyone looking for a novel that will tug at your heart and make you realize what life means, this novel is for you.
"The Fault in Our Stars" By: John Green
This is another novel that pulls at the heart strings. Cancer is the topic that consumes this novel, and I connected with the topic because I have lost two people to cancer. It's a difficult experience to go through, and this novel brought in some perspective about how cancer affects teenagers who are diagnosed with it. It will make you question the reasoning behind life and how to ponder death, which is a scary subject for me. I suggest this novel for high school students, because it gives them variety and also gives them a taste of how literature can affect the people who read it.
"The Hobbit" By: J.R.R. Tolkien
Just read it. It is one of the best novels I have ever picked up. I was skeptical about reading it because I was so in love with the films, and I didn't want the novel to ruin my love of the movies (books often do that because they are better than movies and you can always point out what is different). I felt grateful that my love for the movies intensified by reading the novel. It was an amazing read. You won't regret picking it up.
"The Haunting of Hill House" By: Shirley Jackson
Frightening. That's the best word to describe the feeling this novel elicits from a reader. The creep factor is extremely high, which is why I do not recommend reading this particular ghost story during the nightly hours. I was required to read this novel for a class and it made me paranoid whenever I heard weird sounds in my apartment, and I had read it during the day. For a novel that was written in the 1950's, it is one of the best horror novels that I have read as a contemporary reader.
"Iron House" By: John Hart
This novel is hit-man meets mafia meets psycho brothers. The plot is very engaging, dealing with the murders of several men that were connected to two brothers who were separated as children when they were living in an orphanage. I read this novel in one day. That's how consuming it was, and if you're into mystery and being kept on the edge of your seat, then this novel is definitely for you.
"Crank" By: Ellen Hopkins
This novel is one of my favorite by Hopkins. She writes with such honesty that you can only recognize the reality she presents as truth. The narrator gets addicted to drugs, and she struggles with overcoming her addiction. This novel is the first in a series of three, which I recommend reading as well. Hopkins touches on some difficult topics in her novels, which are written in verse. These novels are often aimed at teens because a lot of her characters are teens. Overall, amazing novels.
"The Horse Whisperer" By: Nicholas Evans
This novel was also adapted into a film, which is also amazing. I suggest reading the novel before watching the film, but either way you're going to end up crying at some point during the reading and viewing process.
"Warm Bodies" By: Isaac Marion
Zombie...what a creature to become. The poor narrator wants his identity back after being turned into a flesh-eating machine that needs to eat brains to hang on to the last remnants of his humanity. I read this in high school, so I recommend it for high school students, but also for adults because it shows how humanity can survive an apocalypse and make a come back where acceptance is a priority. People have to learn to help one another in the struggle to become whole once again.
"Damaged: The Heartbreaking True Story of a Forgotten Child" By: Cathy Glass
If you have difficulty handling topics concerning abuse, I discourage you from reading this novel. It is based on an actual account of a young girl who was taken into a foster home, where she struggled to adapt due to the amount of abuse she suffered in her original living situation. It is a heart-breaking novel, but worth reading because it opens our eyes to the hardships that children face when they are put in terrible situations.
"A Gathering of Crows" By: Brian Keene
This novel frightened me on so many different levels, but if you really enjoy horror novels, this one is for you. There were many brutal deaths and murder methods that I had never fathomed before until reading this novel. It's a dark universe that you will never emerge from as the person you were after reading Keene's book.
"The Lost Language of Cranes" By: David Leavitt
The topic that this novel focuses on is coming to terms with yourself and accepting who you are. This is a struggle for the narrator and his father as they address their sexualities during the 1980's when being a part of the LGBTQAI+ community was more accepted, especially for gay men. There was mass amounts of pride that flooded the streets from people who had pronounced their sexuality. This novel really explores how keeping a part of yourself hidden can eat away at you over time.
"Till We Have Faces" By: C.S. Lewis
If you're into mythology, then this is your book. C.S. Lewis does an amazing job at presenting this novel. It's a quick and captivating read, which I read for one of my classes this semester.
"I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" By: Maya Angelou
This is the first installment of Angelou's autobiography, which was also a captivating read. It focuses on her early life, which helps you get a sense of what it was like growing up during the time that she did. I really enjoyed this autobiography because it read like short stories instead of an autobiography. It was great.
"The Autobiography of Malcolm X" By: Malcolm X
I know autobiographies are not the most pleasurable books to read, but Malcolm X's story is very controversial and riveting due to all of the hateful attitudes that are presented. A lot of people know about Malcolm X's religious affiliations and his civil rights contributions and opinions, but many people are unaware of his background, which is very important. Our roots play some part in who we become, and his did that as well. I admire him for what he stood for during the civil rights movement, and I recommend his autobiography because it exposes how people were during the early 1900's and why things needed to change for the better.
